The computer does not recognize the printer via USB. Why can't I see the printer? Viruses and system file recovery
The reasons for the computer not detecting a connected device can range from a physical malfunction of the printing device to a banal disconnected network cable. Here is a small list of situations when the computer does not see the printer:
- There is no physical connection between the PC and the device. This may include damage to the cable, incorrectly crimped connector, if the computer does not see the printer over the network, its incorrect installation in the connector, etc.;
- disruption of drivers, system failures or updates, as well as virus attacks;
- physical malfunction of the device itself or connectors.
What to do if there are problems with the contact of the USB interface or printer
Most often this happens when the USB connector is faulty or the cable is used incorrectly. One way or another, you will have to check and determine exactly what the problem really is.
Checking the connection if the computer does not see the printer via USB
To immediately cast aside all doubts, the first check should be changing the USB port. Sometimes it happens that the connector used does not match the version or is inoperative, and as a result the computer does not see the printer via this USB. Also, as strange as it may sound, it helps to simply remove the USB cable and insert it back. Rarely, but it happens.
Then you should pay attention to the cable itself. The fact is that any USB cable has a limitation on the length of use. The maximum possible size will be indicated by the marking on it. Usually it might say something like 26AWG. The lower the number, the greater the distance you can use. For example, for the USB 2.0 standard, the number 28 will mean 0.81 m, and 20 - 5 m. If long distances are used, you will have to use hubs that can concentrate the signal and transmit it further. If you have a spare USB cable from other devices, you can try to assess the integrity of the suspect. If, when installing the printer, the system does not see the USB port at all, that is, it does not even understand that something is connected to it, then the problem is precisely this port.
Checking the printer for functionality
If nothing helps and the problem is not the cable or the computer, all that remains is to analyze the operation of the device. The easiest way, however, is not always available, is to connect it to another PC. Better with a different system. For example, the printer does not see Windows 7, but it’s worth trying in Windows 10. This way you can kill two birds with one stone - exclude the system from the culprits or, conversely, enable it, and also understand whether the PC itself is at fault. Otherwise, it is not possible to check the performance in any way. Unless this is an MFP and you can try to photocopy some document.
What to do with a computer if it does not see the printer as a result of a system failure
Sometimes after an unsuccessful, or maybe even a successful update, various system failures occur. This can also occur due to viruses or simply a bug in the drivers or software. In any case, the computer does not recognize the printer via USB, and this needs to be corrected.
The driver is not installed or damaged
When a device is connected, the system immediately begins to question it - who it is, where it is from and how it works. If the OS knows how to work with this type of device, then it installs its own drivers and accesses the gadgets through them. That is, you don’t have to install anything additional. As for printers, there is a very wide range of operating methods and types of devices.
Therefore, it is impossible to organize a universal driver database for all known devices. To do this, manufacturers write drivers for each individual device or series of devices and supply them with the product. In short, a driver is a small program that knows about the functionality that is built into the printing device and knows how to use it. It acts as an intermediary between the OS and the physical device. You can check if the driver is installed in Windows Device Manager.
This applies to any devices present in the system. If there is a connected printer, but the system cannot understand how to work with it, it will write just that - unknown device.
In a special publication on our portal we will tell you in detail how to connect a printer. You will learn general recommendations on how to connect a printer to a computer in several ways, how to connect a printer to a computer with a disk with software, and the nuances of connecting a printer to MacOSX by sharing it over a network.
How to install a printer driver if it is missing
The absence of a driver is a rather interesting situation. It becomes even more interesting when the disk with it disappeared somewhere. You can solve the problem by going to the manufacturer’s official website and downloading the driver directly. Many well-known manufacturers provide excellent support and access to drivers for their printers. For example, Canon or HP.
It’s good if the manufacturer still supports this device and releases software for it. You can also use third-party assemblies with driver databases, which can sometimes automatically detect the device type. The installation itself is not difficult. In most cases, the driver is wrapped in a special shell, which will automatically install all the necessary components. With older versions things are a little different. The kit may include a set of files. The system is oriented according to one of them - with the extension inf. Based on it, it collects the necessary files into a pile and installs them in their places. You can install this type of driver directly from the device manager by right-clicking on an unknown device and selecting “Update driver.”
A new window will open, prompting you to choose automatic search or specifying the file directly. The second option is more preferable, since the first one very rarely gives any result.
Using the Browse button, you can specify where the file is located and click Next. After all the manipulations, a new device should appear in the device manager. The same approach can be used if the driver for some reason fails and needs to be reinstalled rather than installed.
What to do if the computer sees the printer, but does not print
This problem is not uncommon and is mainly associated with the incorrect operation of services and programs of the operating system itself. These could be print spooler services, drivers again, or an incorrectly selected default printer. Let's look at a couple of main cases when the computer does not see the printer and see what can be done.
How to enable the print spooler service
The print manager service is responsible for sending documents for printing in the system. Sometimes, for some reason, it can stop its work, thus stopping the entire printing conveyor. You can check what's wrong with it from the control panel. There you need to follow the “System and Security” path.
Then - “Administration” and launch the “Services” shortcut. You need to find the print manager in the list and first select it. Its possible actions will be displayed on the left. If the “Stop” button is active, then the service is running, but if not, then you will have to start it manually by clicking “Run”. It is also worth double-clicking on this service and seeing if the “Start automatically” option is active.
How to reset default printers
The reason why the computer does not see the printer may be due to the fact that the job is sent to the wrong device. The fact is that several printing devices can be installed in the system, and one of them is always used by default. This is where the error may be hiding. For example, the computer does not see the Canon printer, that is, it tries to send it a document, but printing does not occur. And by default we have, for example, HP installed, which is generally located in another office and works over the network. This is where all the tasks go to him. In order to change it, you need to visit the “Devices and Printers” section. You can get there either from the Control Panel or directly from the Start menu. A list of devices that you can access will be shown here.
A green checkmark on one of them means that this printer is installed by default. That is, now it will become clear why the computer does not see the Canon printer, it simply does not know that it is sending documents to the wrong place. By right-clicking on the desired device, you can set the default to the one you need. The main thing is not to forget to change the default value back again, since now the computer will not see the HP printer.
Features of setting up laptop systems if it does not see the printer via USB
There is no significant difference in terms of printers between a PC and a laptop. If via USB, then under the same conditions the inpatient will not see it. The only thing you might encounter is the difference in the ports of the device. Typically, stationary models come with one type and version, while laptops may also have versions 2.0 and 3.0. Basically everything is done exactly the same.
A fairly common problem is when the computer does not see the printer throughusbhp. After checking both devices, it turns out that both of them are fully functional, the printer works fine on another PC. That is, it turns out that it’s yours the computer does not see the printerhp. Then there are several possible reasons. Let's consider each of them and ways to solve the problem.
- Incorrect connection
- Drivers are missing.
- We chose the wrong device and therefore can't find the printerhp your company.
- Enable automatic printing, which can be done from the Start menu.
- If printer won't connecthp, then the PC operating system may fail.
Poor contact is a common problem that causes PC does not see the printer throughusbhp. You need to try disconnecting and reconnecting the device. Both connectors should be checked, on both sides.
Perhaps the usb connector is faulty, then disconnect the mouse, keyboard and try connecting the device to each one in turn, perhaps in one of them the connection will be successful and the problem is the computer does not see the printerhplaserjet or another - will be decided.
Look carefully to see if the power button on the device has been pressed. Until it is pressed the PC will issue, printer not connectedhp.
If all these actions have been carried out and verified, then we move on for possible reasons.
Therefore the computer and does not see the printer throughusbhp. Perhaps you simply forgot to install them. In this case, you should find the installation disk and, following the instructions, install the printer - then your PC will immediately see it. If there is no disk, then look on the Internet. The computer does not find the printerhp, if you installed the wrong drivers, for example, the wrong manufacturer or publication year. Drivers should be downloaded from the official website of your device manufacturer. Be careful when choosing an operating system - it must match yours on your PC.
Restart your computer if necessary. The printer should now appear in the Start - Printers and Faxes menu.
If the system is still can't see the printerhp, then perhaps the problem is in the operating system itself. That is, check the settings on the laptop or desktop machine itself. If everything is done correctly and the printer is detected, but it does not work, then you should remove the drivers and install them again. After this the problem the computer does not see the scannerhp or printer, must go. But other problems are also possible.
There can be many reasons, starting with an unconnected cable and ending with a failure in the operating system. Let's look at common problems and options for solving them - from simple to complex.
Faulty connection
Sometimes a computer or laptop does not see the printer via USB due to a faulty cable or port, or a poor connection.
- Unplug the device cable on both sides, and then plug it in again.
- Check if the USB connector is working properly. Try connecting another device through it: for example, a keyboard or mouse.
- Try connecting the printer to a different USB port.
- If possible, replace the cable.
Also make sure the printer is turned on. Some devices have the power button on the back or side, and users simply forget to press it. Sometimes the computer does not see the printer via USB due to such a small thing, and solving the issue literally takes one minute.
Settings failed
Check what your default printing hardware is. To do this, go to Control Panel, then to “Hardware and Sound” - “View devices and printers”. Right-click on the printer icon and select the “Set as default” option. In some cases, this is enough for the device to work correctly.
If the problem is not resolved, double-click on the equipment icon, in the window that opens, select the “Printer” tab and uncheck the “Pause printing” and “Work offline” checkboxes. Also click on “Clear print queue”.
If this does not help, go to the Control Panel, select “Small Icons” from the “View” menu, go to the “Administration” tab and open “Services”. In the window that appears, you need to find the Print Spooler service and set the startup type to automatic.
If the service is stopped, also click on the “Start” button, and then print a test page.
Lack of driver
It happens that the computer does not see the printer via USB due to the lack of a driver or due to incorrectly installed or outdated software.
Go to the manufacturer's official website, download the driver for your device from there and install it. Then restart your computer and try printing a test page.
If you accidentally installed the wrong driver, go to the “Device Manager” through the control panel, find the required hardware there, go to its properties, then go to the “Driver” tab and click on the “Uninstall” button. After this, install new software downloaded from the manufacturer’s official website.
Device malfunction
If your printer does not connect to your computer via USB and all of the above methods do not resolve the problem, there may be a problem with the hardware itself. Try connecting the device to another computer or laptop. If the problem occurs again, the best option is to take the printer to a service center so that specialists can test and repair it.
The computer does not see the printer. What to do?
After connecting the printer, it is always necessary to install the device correctly. Sometimes the instructions are not followed correctly and the computer does not pay attention to the connection.
Why doesn't the computer see the printer? How to fix this? Let's figure it out.
First of all, you need to understand the reason, and then look for an approach to this problem.
The user needs to check the connection
Read also: [Instructions] How to connect a printer to a computer on Windows 10 and Mac OS
Quite often this is the main source of the problem.
First, the user needs to remove the USB cable from the computer and printer and insert it back. Make sure the wire is connected securely to both devices.
Check if the selected connector is working. Most often this should be USB 2.0. For better quality testing, disconnect other devices from the computer (mouse, keyboard, etc.).
Check all suitable connectors one by one and wait for a response on the monitor (a sound signal may be heard).
The problem may also be as simple as forgetting to press the power button on the printer. The computer does not see the USB printer when it is turned off. The button is located on the side or back of the case.
If all of the above is in order, move on to the next possible reason.
VIDEO: How to connect and configure a printer
How to connect and set up a printer
Driver problem (not installed)
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And in this case, it is possible that the user forgot to install it altogether. Let's consider this case now.
In order for the computer to find and recognize the printer as a connected device, you must install a special program.
This program is located on the CD included with the printer. It is usually located in the instruction file.
Once you have launched this disc, simply follow the instructions provided. After downloading the program, you will not need a disk to operate the printer.
If the disk is not included, then there may be a link to the required driver or its name. Otherwise, you will have to search for the driver yourself on the Internet.
For an easy search, type in the printer model completely and the installer itself should be in the first links. Download it very carefully; due to connection problems, additional malware may be installed.
It is best to choose the official website of the manufacturer. Before installation, check whether the PC version and model of the connected device are suitable for the driver. If the driver is wrong, nothing will work and there will be no connection.
During installation, the driver will ask for PC data, and after downloading, you must restart the computer.
To check if the program is working, after rebooting, find "Printers and Faxes". Further installation instructions may be required.
At this time, it is important to connect to a wi-fi network, because... All operations take place via an Internet connection.
Driver problem (crashed/buggy)
Read also: [Instructions] How to reinstall Windows (7/8/10) on a computer or laptop | 2019
If all the necessary programs are installed, but the computer still does not see the printer, the problem is most likely in the installer settings.
In this case, the device may be reflected in the connected ones, but there is no correct operation.
Troubleshooting instructions:
1 Go to the section "Add or remove programs". Find your connected device in this section and delete it.
2 Through "Properties and Servers" or "Device Manager"(depending on the system) find “Drivers”.
3 Remove the already installed driver. If necessary, delete everything.
4 Now the user needs to reinstall the program back on the PC.
After a complete reboot of the program, it should start working correctly. The cause could be connection problems or site glitches.
Almost each of us can encounter such a problem when the computer suddenly stops seeing the printer, and sometimes the computer does not see the new printer.
Even if both of our devices work fine separately, sometimes the computer still cannot recognize the printer, regardless of the fact that all the necessary connections are made correctly. This problem is considered one of the most common, and strangely enough, sometimes it turns out that it is very easily solved. One of the most likely reasons may be that the connection was not made accurately.
Often, the reason for a printer not being visible can be a lack of contact during the connection process, for example, this could be a consequence of clogged ports, a broken cord, or perhaps an insufficiently tight connection at the interface.
The second common reason may be that the drivers are not working correctly.
Why doesn't my computer see my Canon printer?
Drivers installed on printing devices can also become unusable, leading to failures and errors in the operation of the printer. If there is no disk, which should rightfully be included when purchasing a printer, this is not such a difficult task, since we can download the drivers without any problems. But sometimes we come across incompatible ones, or those that do not fit our OS.
Another reason could be that another device was previously connected and set as the default printing device. 
This problem may occur if other printing devices are connected to the computer, or if they were previously connected but not removed properly. This means that the operating system recognizes another printer that is automatically selected.
The print service is disabled.
In search of an answer to the question of why the computer does not see the printer, users often forget about the settings of the operating system itself. For trouble-free printing, the service must be enabled at all times.
If the computer does not see the Canon printer, to check the connection it is enough to make sure that the working ports and cable are used. If you find debris or dust in the ports, you need to clean them to ensure contact between elements. To check, you can free all the connectors, and if the computer does not see the USB printer, check each of them sequentially. Sometimes the problem can be solved by simply checking whether the printer itself is turned on, since many people often forget to turn the device on again after disconnecting from the network.
In cases where the laptop does not see the Canon printer, problems with drivers can come from either their incorrect operation or their complete absence. To install drivers, it is important to use the original disk included with the printer. If there is no such disk, drivers are downloaded from the Internet on the official website of the device manufacturer. When downloading a driver, it is important to select a package that fully matches the printer model and your operating system. If the drivers are not working correctly, you can reinstall them by first removing the broken version.
To figure out why the computer does not see the Canon printer, to set the current printer as the default device, you need to right-click on the device icon and check the box next to the “Use as default” option or simply select this option.
To enable the printing service, you need to go to the Control Panel, the “Administration” tab, then “Services” or “Print Spooler. After this, you need to enable the service by selecting “Startup type” or the “Run” command and checking the “Automatic” option.
Thus, if the computer does not see the connected printer, then you can solve this problem yourself in most cases. Evidence that the problem has been resolved is the correct operation of the device and its display on the computer. In other cases, you need to contact specialists, since the lack of results from all of the indicated methods for correcting the problem may indicate the presence of more serious malfunctions.
The computer does not see the printer via USB Canon
It is difficult to answer the exact question - why the computer does not see a printer connected via a USB connector. There can be many reasons. Here we will consider, if not all, then most of them. Before you do anything, you need to turn off the printing device and computer. Wait a minute and turn on the devices. If the problem persists, read on.
Turn off the printer and disconnect the USB cable. We look at the connectors in the computer and in the printer. If they are dirty, we clean them. Perhaps an old toothbrush will come in handy here. We connect the cord. If it doesn’t see it, connect it through another USB connector on the computer. If you have a stationary PC, connect it to another connector on the back of the system unit. If the problem persists, temporarily disable other peripheral devices (webcam, scanner, monitor, adapters and other devices). We connect one printer and a mouse with keyboard. If the problem persists, you need to connect the printing device with another USB cable (preferably a thicker and shorter one).
Ideally, connect the printer to another computer, install the drivers and try to print something. If printing works, then the problem is in our computer. If the other computer also does not see the printer, then I would take the printing device to a service center.